Stihl 500i, Stock & Zipped vs Psy-Ko Makita 6421/7900 vs Torque Monster 181/281xp
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- čas přidán 29. 08. 2024
- Filmed in September 2020.
There seems to be a lot of hype centered around the Stihl® 500i. They do run good for a stock saw. They rip once zipped. A bit of a fuel hog though. Spongy feel due to the mushy soft spring mounts. Not a saw for the type of faller that is knocking the undercut out with the dawgs…
In the previous saw test video we watched the 6421/7900 hybrid and 500i trade fastest times. Here we see the Makita is faster in both. This is the result of a few factors. I had taken it out into the bush for some falling, it had been used more in some saw test videos, and I altered the intake air flow characteristics with a change of the 1st K&N filter design. The 500i was sporting the original HD2 air filter & rain cover. We have seen the louvers in the rain cover. They allow for the most air flow of any cover to date so it is actually pretty even there.
I had yammered on back in March about my 281 winning against the Torque Monster 481 in a saw-off session. I had also proclaimed that my 481 would be winning over the 500i before I had seen the internals and based on what I knew about the 462. I had assumed that the 500i was similar in design to the 462 there.
The caveat here is that the 281 being in the “standard” Psy-Ko trim. My “patented” “Torque Tweak” does not necessarily increase speed in a saw-off or race type application. It is geared toward adding noticeable lowend grunt so that the operator can pull a long bar with authority. As we watched the 281 being able to leverage the several hundred pound log up and over while still posting the 2nd fastest time coming up.
The three zipped saws are all in the Psy-Ko level so it is pretty even there. They are all tuned toward torque to function better in a work type application as well. Again, this is not necessarily a method I would use to increase the timed run in a cookie saw-off session.
Bore, stroke, and displacement numbers:
Stihl® 500i 54mm x 34.6mm for 79.24cc
Makita® 6421/7900 Hybrid 52mm x 37mm for 78.57cc
Husqvarna® 181se/281xp 52mm x 38mm for 80.70cc
Looking at the timed runs:
Stock 500i high idle at 13,500 went 11.93 down, 10.97 (cut out) up, and 11.46 up
Psy-ko 6421/7900 high idle at 13,560 went 9.94 down and 9.50 up
Psy-Ko 500i high idle at 13,670 went 10.23 down and 10.46 up
Psy-Ko 181/281 high idle at 13,800 went 10.17 down and 10 flat up while leveraging the test log
I this session, the “little saw” that could, actually did! We watched the Makita 6421/7900, with the least amount of run time and nowhere near broken in, posted the lowest times. On the other side of that, and it was decisive, the 181/281 clearly showed the most lowend grunt of the group.
I am well pleased with how Makita project came out. I missed the times by just a bit in my guessing as we watched the 6421/7900 actually win. Unfortunately, it is really hard to tell through the computer monitor how a saw feels while it is working. The time disparity between the stock 500i and the zipped saws would continue to increase as the length of the guide bar became longer.
I’m currently available for custom saw modifications. Please shoot me an email if you are interested.
danger_cat@rocketmail.com
Thanks for watching.
I don't believe I've ever watched a video of a 7900 that was anything other than stock that hasn't been impressive. Even in stock form they are quite impressive for what they are.
My grandpa is Scott Reed and he's been having trouble signing into his youtube account, so he asked me to comment and let you know that his saw is fantastic and he absolutely loves it!
Hello. There are the time postings plus a lot of other info in the description. I would suggest taking a peek. Thanks for watching.
I sent you an email about a 181 I would like to have some work done to. Are you still doing saws for the public
I recently bought a really good condition Makita DCS6421. I just got in the OEM HD air filter, a dual ported straight pipe, and a 7900 big bore cylinder kit. Looking forward to getting it all installed. It seems Makita/Dolmar doesn't get the recognition it deserves. Its always the 2 orange saws people rave about, and i have a few pro versions of those too. But, the Makita is dang nice
8:08 sounds like Jack’s rockin a flip phone. I respect him even more now
Great video thank you...so in 1982 I purchased the new 181 instead of a tried and true Husky 480....one of the first ones in the Rogue Valley....what a miserable SOB....did several upgrades to it and owned it about a year got it running pretty well then sold it.....was a new saw design had some bugs to workout....I was a glutton for punishment....I purchased a Husky 281.....I port and polished and put on a velocity stack and K&N or green weenie..opened the muffler....wow what a saw...one of my best mid size saws I had ever owned a real rock star...still running 2100s and 2101 in bigger wood. Wish still had that 281XP excellent saw a real runner now have several 390s...had a 288 too....really liked the handling of the 281. Use to have a Sach Dolmar dealer here in the early to mid 80s....remember folks showing up on the job with them....not bad...ran strong....but remember them vibrating screws out and breaking down allot not near as dependable as Stihls and Husky....hopefully the Dolkita does better...it sounded good in a controlled environment...but I wondering how it will do on a rainy day down deep in a unit.. is that really the saw you want to relie on.....not me. So those 500 seem pretty cool ...I know Stihl didn't bring them to USA for over two years making darn sure they didn't have another flop like the 441...which they released twice trying to make a go of them' before discontinuing them...
Have a question why were the top plastic covers so loose on the 500? Again great job and god bless...Shoe in SW Oregon...big wood country
Robert, whats the downfall of the 441? I bought an early one in the wrap configuration and did a muffler job on it and it has been my favorite saw to bring out in the woods and for firewood cutting. Paired up with a 28" ES light bar it's well balanced and the thing sure cuts wood quickly. Seen alot of 462's but never tried one.
@@charlesgrave Hi Charles want to start off by saying I hope your saw is good to you and last along time. So here my story...I work on a forest that purchased 15 to 20...441's for the hotshots, engine crews,and helitack/rappel crew...first generation...everyone had problems...overheating/ vapor locking, not starting and blowing them up...it was so bad that Stihl swapped them out for the tried and true 440 (044). Then Stihl pulled them from at our area and reintroduced them around 9 months to a year later...we tried a few more and again problems....granted fire fighting and running saws in 100 degree weather is very demanding but they were poor performers. Then Stihl pulled them all together from our area. Several of our local contract fire and tsi thinning crews had similar luck. Hopefully you have better luck. The 462...hmmmm... stick with the 461 or buy a new 500 be my advice. Actually some of the local contract crew have been purchasing Husqvarna 572 and they like them. Take care Shoe...ps....not the first time Stihl had underpreformer'ever hear of the 042 or 048...short lived flops.
I think Psy-Ko Makita 6421/7900 cut the fastest!
Stanley hi. Well kind of. I had to back out of the 181/281 and it sill run about the same as the 7900. WAY more power in the 181/281 though.
Thanks for watching.
Greetings from croatia !
I am young guy but i will tell you what my dad and grandpa say. If you want fast, light and strong chainsaw for home, buy al-ko/solo. If you need monster chainsaw for throwing trees, buy makita/dolmar. They say that stihl and husqvarna are good, but price-wise, they are only overrated names which will betray you when its the hardest. And i proudly stand behind their words, cuz here we have dalmatian black oaks, which are one of the toughest trees on the planet
Hi Jack nothing wrong with these old saws
That Husqvarna 281 is an absolute beast I’m very impressed I would love to own that saw you did a great 👍 job on that build I’m blown away how hard it pulls.
Thank you.
Jack what type of KN Filter do you use for the makita? Cheers from Hamburg Germany
I’d like to know as well.
Me too please jack.
luv the stihl pull start handlegrip!! on the husky! lol..
I will always take torque over RPMs hp. If they are about same weight.
Every time that chain stops it where's me and the saw out a little. That or I am just getting old. :-)
Thank you for the video @hotsaws
Hey Jack!!! I’m pretty impressed with that dolmar/makita. Defiantly not the saw I thought was going to take the win but well done!!!! And yes I’ll give props to the old husky, that’s just a down right animal!!!
Take care and thank you
The cylinder cover really seems to dance on both 500i's, at least while checking the RPM.
Ryan hi.
Only one, 1/4 twist lock screw holds the cover down. It's on the opposite side also. The other points of contact are rubber receptacles that accept a molded "pin" from the cover.
Uber lightweight is the philosophy.
One of the associated issues with the end result is what you noticed here.
Thanks for watching.
Just out of curiosity how many saws do you have? How many go-to saws.that you always take to the job. I understand if you don't want to share (thieves being out there) we would enjoy a shop tour also.
Awesome work Hotsaw. I loving all that you do in this area.
Michael, home of the Kauri.
Ps can you please put this Makita here up against the 90cc class just for comparison? I'm also interested on how 640, 660, 064, 066 compares to 661 and husqy 395.
Michael, from New Zealand then.
That saw is long gone. We will be watching the 500i in zipped form going against a few of the bigger saws so you will be able to extrapolate. Keep in mind the 7900 beat the 500i.
There are videos from the last 3/4 years with a lot of 066/660/661/395 saw-offs featured.
The 640/064s are lagging a little. The 064 weighs ~ a pound less than the 660 though so it has it's place in the bush.
Thanks for watching.
Great running saws
Looks like the dolkita is the saw to own
WAY ahead of their time. No more weight than a 5ooi. Can be made to run better than a 5ooi. About TWICE the fuel mileage as a 5ooi. AND,,, a "normal guy can afford one, LOL...
Thanks for watching.
I'm still trying to find that aluminum chain brake setup for my 272xp! The one that I found couldn't be rebuilt.
What did you do with the 7910 muffler, essentially just open it up, take out the guts and add another port or did you do some other mods? Thinking about moding mine. I like that saw!
Take the guts out, add a plate at the exhaust inlet, and either open up the stock outlet and/or add another outlet is the usual recipe.
Can you explain why you had the chain cranked Down so tight on the 1st sthil saw ?
Keith hi.
I had them all cranked down pretty tight. The stock saw doesn't have the same power so it just appears to be more snug.
I posted a "Faller's Corner" video as to the reasoning.
Thanks for watching.
Should do more vidjas showing how to port
Would have been interesting to bring the 481 torque monster into the group
Kenneth hi.
I've done some saw-offs with the "481" and 500i.
That is going to be a stand alone comparison.
I went on record a year ago stating my Torque Monster would take a 500i. This was base on an assumption that the 500i internal design was similar to the 462.
We will be viewing that grudge match at some point in the near future.
Thanks for watching.
@@hotsaws101 the 500i that you think the 481would take is that a zipped or is that stock? But either way I will look forward to that video coming up
That sthil tac looks like a pita. I love to watch your work sir. Get out of here log! 👏 that Husqvarna is so angry. Thanks for the notes.
Why do you have the chains cranked so tight?
He has a video on chain tension
wouldn't mind seen a hopped up ms441 just to see what it can do
Nice video chainsaw 😍
Makita 7900😱😱😱 🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩
Is the kita ported
Jon hi. It is. It stated in the title (Psy-Ko). No way on God's green earth would had been close given the company otherwise.
Thanks for watching.
Husky all the way
I've got a 181 and it's a beast, but I think the Makita was fastest.
Craig hi. A few tenths. The 281 has noticeably more power. I had to back out of it going up to keep it from "spitting out" the ~ 300 pound chunk on the saw buck. ½ second behind is all.
Thanks for watching.
I’d give anything if my 181 would cut like that
Hey buddy where can I get that wrap bar for my 500i
White's Tree hi.
Short of a bunch of fab work & welding,
any official Stihl dealer can order you a set. If your local shop gives you grief, call Madsen's in Centralia, Wa. They ship.
Thanks for watching.
Thank you
Wait a minute you're bald Jack
Tristan hi. I think you mean follicule-ik-ly challenged. Although, I do shave my head in the summers to help dissipate the heat, lol.
Thanks for watching.
pc saw no good